Boston closing in on deal with Pierzynski

The signing of A.J. Pierzynski in Boston likely means Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be leaving the Red Sox this offseason.(AP)

BOSTON (AP) -- Free-agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski has agreed to a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

The deal would be pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't finalized the agreement.

The lefty-hitting Pierzynski and righty David Ross, the backup, both will be 37 next season. With catching prospects Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart making their way up the system, the Red Sox were reluctant to give a multiyear deal to free agent Jarrod Saltalamacchia, their starter the past three seasons.

Pierzynski hit .272 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs last season, his only one with the Texas Rangers. He walked just 11 times and doesn't fit the Red Sox preference for patient hitters who work the count. In 2012, he had 27 homers and 28 walks, both career highs.

He spent the previous eight years with the Chicago White Sox, playing in at least 128 games each season, and appeared in all four games when they swept Houston in the 2005 World Series. A two-time All-Star, Pierzynski has a .283 career average with 172 homers and 800 RBIs.

Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter, batted .273 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs last season, his highest average since becoming Boston's starting catcher. But he struck out 139 times in 121 games in each of the past two seasons.

Ross started four of the six games in Boston's World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Saltalamacchia went 0 for 6 in the two Series games he played and 6 for 32 (.188) in the postseason.